God offers us healing from our painful pasts not only so we can grow as mothers and be a blessing to our children, but because he delights to make us—his children—whole.

God gives us stories of his faithfulness to strengthen our faith and sustain us in hard times.

Even—or especially—when we’re hurting, we can celebrate Christmas because we have a Messiah who came to suffer for us and secure the gift of eternal life.

As moms, we can’t keep our children from suffering, but we can help shape their response to it.

Here are three of the most effective expressions of care that you can offer a friend in the wake of pregnancy loss.

Sorrow can become a precious opportunity to point our children back to our Savior—the Man of Sorrows who makes broken things new.

We can be thankful for the children we have and grieve the ones we have lost—trusting that God works all things for our good.

Though our days may already be filled with serving our own families, when a friend is in crisis, we have a beautiful opportunity to serve her and help her experience the love of Christ.

Losses that we relive everyday can be met with God’s mercies that are new every morning.

While battling chronic illness can make it challenging to care for those who depend on us, we can depend on our Father whose strength is made perfect in weakness.

Mother’s Day can be a time to mourn over what is broken, rejoice over what is good, and look forward to God’s final redemption.

As much as we’d like to protect them, our children will inevitably face trials and suffering. When they do, we can trust God is with us and he’s working in their lives.